Improvement in processes and machines for treating bricks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. C. HALL. PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING BRICK. No.185,394.-,Patented Dec. 19, 1876-.

THE GRAPHIC OOJLY {Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. C. HALL. PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR TREATING BRICK. No.185,394. PatentedDec.19, 1876.

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N 4/ kl Y 4 THE GRAPHIC OO-N-Y Unrrnn s'ra'rne WILLIAM G. HALL, OF

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BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND MACHINES FOR TREATING BRICKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,394, dated December19, 1876; application filed October 23, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. HALL, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvementsin Process and Machine-for Treating Bricks, which improvements are fullyset forth in the following specification, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings.

Buildingbricks, when formed in the ordinary manner, by molding orpressing, are not uniform in thickness, their sides and edges aregenerally more or less uneven, and they frequently change form in dryingor setting, previous to burning, so that even when turned out true bythe press their form is generally more or less distorted and impaired,when ready for the kiln.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties, so as toproduce bricks having uniform thickness, and true sides and edges.

The first part of my invention relates to the process of treating thebricks previous to burning; and the second part of my invention relatesto a machine for carrying out this process.

The nature of my invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,with a portion .of the upper parts removed. Fig. 3isalongitudinalsection of my machine. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in line mm, Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the main frame of the machine, preferably mounted on wheelsat a, so as to be readily moved. a. are longitudinal beams or girderssecured between the posts of the main frame, and B bed-pieces arrangedtransversely upon the beams a for supporting the brick while operatedupon. The bedpiece B is composed of two or more parallel bars arrangedso as to leave a narrow opening or space between each pair ofbars,through which the particles separated from the brick may drop. Brepresents a stop plate or abutment arranged on the side of eachbedpiece B, and 0 a movable clamping-jaw arranged on the opposite sidethereof, for holding the brick to be operated upon between them. Thestationary and movable jaws are so constructed as to leave the upper andlower edges of the clamped brick free, as these edges frequently projectmore or less, and would interfere with the proper clamping of the brick.The stationary jaws B are arranged at a short distance from the adjacentbed-piece B, so as to leave a narrow space between them through whichthe dust, 860., can escape. D are two horizontal ways or guides, inwhich the ends of the movable jaws O G are guided, and d d spiralsprings arranged around horizontal bolts or rods d, so as to bearagainst the jaw G, and resist the opening thereof. The bolts d areguided in lugs e secured to the main frame. E is a hand-lever pivoted tothe main frame, and connected to both movable jaws G O byconnecting-rodsff, so that both are opened and closed simultaneously.ferred, however, each jaw may be actuated independent of the other. Grepresents the knives or cutters arranged in a reciprocating carriage,H, sliding on horizontal guide-bars h, by means of bearings h areadjustahly secured to frames I pivoted between lugs 70 of the carriageH. Two knives or cutters, G, are arranged above each bedpiece B,preferably in such manner that the knives will travel partially over thesame from opposite sides, so that each knife will cut or plane the brickplaced on the bed-piece from its edge inwardly, and stop before reachingthe opposite .edge of the brick. The knives are adjusted on the frames Iby set-screws i passing through slots in the knives, and with referenceto the carriage H, by set-screws h passing through cross pieces h of thecarriage. L are springs arranged at one or both ends of each knife G,for holding the same in contact with the brick during the cuttingstroke,and lifting it away from the brick during its return stroke. The springsL consist of a vertical arm secured to the main frame, and a horizontalarm, l, arranged at a short distance above the cutting-edge of therespective knife, and provided with an inwardly-projecting portion, l.The latter bears against the end ofthe knife during its forward orcutting stroke, thereby holding the knife down If me.

The knives G to its work, while, when the knife has completed itsstroke, the portion 1 springs inward, and engages against the back ofthe knife, thereby raising the latter during-its return stroke, so thatthe cutting-edge clears the brick until the end of the portion 1 of thespring is reached by the knife, when it drops back to its formerposition by its own weight. The cutter-carriage H, as shown in thedrawings, is actuated by a bell-crank lever, K, but any other suitablemeans may be employed for the purpose.

The bed-pieces B, abutinents B, and clampingawsv O are preferablyarranged at an angle to the knives, so that the latter strike the brickin an oblique direction, which produces a slanting cut, and brings theresistance gradually upon the knives. 1' represents sleeves of rubber orother elastic material placed upon the guide-bars h, so that thebearings h of the carriage H will come in contact therewith at the endof its stroke, and arrest the movement of the carriage in an easymanner.

The bricks formed-in the mold or pressed in the ordinary manner areallowed to dry or set unlil they are ready for burning, when they aresubjected to the action of my improved machine.

The brick to be operated upon is placed upon the bed-piece B, andclamped by closing the movable jaw O, the two knives being in a positionequidistant from the central line of the bed-piece. The knife-carriage His then reciprocated, so that each knife makes a complete forward andbackward stroke, whereby the upper surface of the brick is planed off.The two knives cut successively inwardly from the edge of the brick, andstop before reaching the opposite edge of the brick, whereby theentireface of the brick is completely gone over, and, at the same time, thechipping or breaking off of edge is avoided, which would take place ifthe knives were run over the edge opposite to that from which theystart. When one side of the brick is finished, the clamping-jaw Oisopened and the brick reversed and clamped again, and the operation ofplaning repeated. in this manner the sides of the brick, which areplaced horizontally when the bricks are laid in a wall are made true andeven, and the bricks are made of a uniform thickness, so that they canbe laid without previously sorting them, thereby sav ing time in layingthem, and enabling them to be laid in perfectly straight courses, withwell-defined joints, with ease and despatch.

When the bricks are provided with a sunken panel on one or both sides,the planing will extend only to the marginal portion surrounding thepanel. WVhen the machine is provided with two bed-pieces, B, as shown inthe drawings, two operators are employed on the same, one feeding thebricks from one side onto the first bed-piece, Where one side ofthebrick is planed off, while the other operator takes the brick fromthe first bedpiece, and places it in a reversed position on the secondbed-piece, where the other side of the brick is planed off.

- The-machine is readily moved from one part of the yard to another, ascircumstances may require; but, if preferred, may be made stationary anddriven by any suitable power.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described process of preparing bricks for the kiln byfirst forming the bricks in any suitable mold or press, then allowingthe bricks so formed to set or harden, and then planing ofi' the sides'or horizontal surfaces of the bricks, substantially as and for thepurpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The herein-described process of planing the surface of green bricksfrom two opposite edges, inwardly, whereby the chipping 011' of theedges is prevented, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination, with the bed-piece B, of two reciprocating hingedknives, G G, cutting in opposite directions, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination, with a hinged knife, G, of a spring-arm, L, providedwith an inwardly-projecting portion, l, for holding the knife down tothe brick during the cuttingstroke, and raising it away from the brickduring the return stroke, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination, with one or more bedpieces, B, of the abutment B,movable clamp G, and reciprocating carriage H, provided with one or morepairs of hinged knives, G, substantially as and for the purposehereinbefore set forth. 7

6. The combination, with the bed B, and fixed jaw B, of the movableclamping-jaw G, sliding in guides D, guide-bars d, springs d, andactuating lever, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore setforth.

7. The combination, with the reciprocating I hinged knives G, of thebed-piece B, provided 9. The combination, with one or more bedpieces B,of the reciprocating carriage H, provided with knives G, and supportedby bearings l1, upon guide-bars h, having elastic cushions r,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

WM. 0. HALL.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. SYKEs, EDWARD WILHELM.

